Past research has shown that strength training can benefit older adults' health in numerous ways including arthritis relief, alleviating back pain, increasing bone density, improving sleep and boosting mental health. But despite these findings, a new study from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that few U.S. adults age 45 and older adhere to the Department of Health and Human Services' muscle-strengthening recommendations.
The guidelines advise middle-aged and older adults to do moderate or high intensity muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle group two or more days a week. Training can involve hand weights or weight machines, basic exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups or yoga and similar fitness practices.
In the latest study, researchers examined data from a telephone health survey conducted in 2011 by the CDC known as the U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. For the survey, respondents provided information about the types of physical activities they engage in and frequency, as well as answered questions about if they specifically did exercises to strengthen their muscles. HealthDay reports:
Of all those who answered the questions on muscle strengthening, about 24 percent said they met the government's recommendations.
Among those less likely than others to meet these guidelines were women, widows, those age 85 or older, people who were obese, and Hispanics. Participants who didn't graduate from high school were also less likely to meet U.S. strength-training recommendations.
Jesse Vezina, of Arizona State University, and his fellow researchers concluded that interventions designed to encourage people to participate in strength training should target these high-risk groups.
Previously: Moderate exercise program for older adults reduces mobility disability, study shows, Help from a virtual friend goes a long way in boosting older adults’ physical activity and Do muscles retain memory of their former fitness?
Photo by Positively Fit
